Chapter 2
Harry was early. He ordered a butterbeer for himself and Hermione. It was ten minutes before Hermione arrived in the almost empty pub. She sat down, but as she looked up, Harry could see the curiosity on her face.
"Hermione."
"Harry." She saw the butterbeer sat in front of her waiting. She lifted it to her lips and took a large gulp. "Thanks." They sat in silence for a few minutes, waiting for someone to say something. "What's this about?" Hermione finally said.
Harry sighed before speaking. "It's Ginny." He had been staring at the table between the two of them but chose this moment to look up at her. "She's been acting really strange lately. I've tried talking to her, but she hasn't been communicating with me like she used to."
"And you want me to talk to her?" Hermione knew exactly what Harry wanted, so she didn't know why she was asking this.
"Exactly." In that moment, Hermione noticed how tired Harry looked. The bags under his eyes seemed more prominent than they had when she last saw him.
"Alright. Tell me exactly what's been happening. How long has this been going on for?"
"It started about a year ago and has gotten a lot worse since." Hermione nodded, taking a mental note of this. "When I cook dinner for the three of us, she refuses to eat it but I'll catch her eating something later on. She's been going out more frequently, she showers more often, she spends more time in our room. Nearly every time I enter a room she's in, she'll leave and go into another. Hermione, I need your help." Harry could feel tears beginning to fall. "I can't remember the last time she slept in the same bed as me." He took a sip of his drink. "Even Teddy has noticed Ginny acting like this. We've both tried talking to her but she just ignores us."
Hermione thought before a plan popped into her mind. "I'll ask Mrs. Weasley to invite us all over for dinner. I can try talking to Ginny then." This was the best plan Hermione could think of. "Why didn't you say something before?"
Harry wiped away his tears. "Every time I've seen you in the last few months, you've been with Ron. I don't really want him to know just yet, he'll only make things worse." Harry could see a small sympathetic smile on Hermione's face before they both realised how fast The Three Broomsticks was filling up with people.
"I understand. I'll ask Mrs. Weasley about that dinner." They both stood up and shared a quick hug. "I should probably get going. Ron will be wondering where I am." With a smile, she walked off, leaving Harry to find his own way through the crowd.